Draft environmental study released on water project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the draft environmental impact statement for the Northern Integrated Supply Project today which is designed to give municipal and domestic water users a new supply of 40,000 acre-feet of water per year.

An acre foot of water is enough to supply two families with a year’s supply of water.

The public has 90 days to comment and provide input on the draft, which studies the purpose and need for the project, possible alternatives and what impacts the alternatives would have on the environment.

The draft is available for viewing at www.usace.army.mil.

The preferred alternative includes two off-channel reservoirs, Glade Reservoir, northwest of Fort Collins, and Galeton Reservoir, east of Ault. It would provide 40,000 acre-feet of reliable firm yield annually to 15 Front Range water providers which are funding the project.

Two water rights would be used to fill the reservoirs — one on the Poudre River to fill Glade and one on the South Platte to fill Galeton.

There would be no new structures on the Poudre River as a result of the project. Glade Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir, which means it is not a dam on the Poudre River.